Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Holon have launched the KIRA+ project to test SAE Level 4 autonomous driving in local public transportation in Germany, with preparations for test operations now under way. Initial mapping drives are scheduled for 2027 in parts of Darmstadt and the Offenbach district, covering areas served by local project partners HEAG mobilo and Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Offenbach.
Testing Autonomous Public Transport
Prof. Knut Ringat, chairman of the RMV management board, said KIRA+ builds on experience gained through previous autonomous driving trials and will test further-developed technology in vehicles designed specifically for public transport.
“With KIRA+ we build on the experience gathered so far in autonomous driving and test the further developed technology in vehicles that were designed for use in public transport. This brings us a decisive step closer to the model region we are aiming for in the RMV area,” Ringat said.
“The goal is to integrate autonomous services into regular public transport in the near future. Driverless services offer the great opportunity, with the appropriate political support, to continue offering attractive and affordable public transport everywhere and at any time,” he added.
Harmen van Zijderveld, CEO of DB Regio, said autonomous vehicles need to be integrated into public transport systems rather than operating separately from existing services.
“Autonomous driving offers the chance of a faster, cheaper and digital mobility service. But so that we do not simply end up with even more cars on the roads, we have to integrate autonomous vehicles intelligently into public transport,” van Zijderveld said.
“That is exactly what we are testing with KIRA+, with all the requirements that modern, autonomous public transport has to meet. From usability for customers with reduced mobility through to reliable technical supervision in the control center under real operating conditions,” he added.
Holon Urban Vehicle to Support On-Demand Services
KIRA+ uses the accessible Holon urban vehicle, equipped with autonomous driving technology from Mobileye. The vehicle has five passenger seats and one wheelchair space during test operations. When the wheelchair space is occupied, three passenger seats are available.
Dr. Sven Herzig, managing director at Holon, said the project represents the company’s third German region for public-road testing of the Holon urban following Hamburg and Paderborn.
“KIRA+ is an important step for us in Germany. After Hamburg and Paderborn, the Holon urban will now be running on public roads in a third German region,” Herzig said.
“Here, two of the major players in German public transport, RMV and DB Regio, are working toward a model region in which autonomous vehicles are to become part of the regular service in large numbers,” he added.
According to Holon, the vehicle is designed for continuous operation, an important requirement for autonomous mobility services intended for regular public transport.
Project Targets Regional Autonomous Transport Model
The project aims to establish a model region for autonomous public transportation, with autonomous mobility services integrated into regular local transport across a defined area rather than being limited to individual pilot projects.
KIRA+ will test the operation of self-driving vehicles and on-demand booking processes, with a particular focus on scalability. Ride requests will be handled through a dedicated app from Ioki, which coordinates bookings and combines them through route planning.
Safety personnel will remain on board during the tests to supervise the autonomous SAE Level 4 journeys.
The planned operating area builds on the predecessor KIRA project, which runs until the end of 2026. Existing capabilities for autonomous operation, including the control center, can therefore continue to be used in KIRA+.
KIRA+ Forms Part of MILA.mobility
KIRA+ is one of five test fields within the MILA.mobility project, which is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
MILA.mobility stands for Middleware Integration of Control Centre and Dispatch Systems for Autonomous Mobility. The project aims to develop and harmonise a middleware architecture connecting the software systems required for autonomous public transport, covering the vehicle, fleet dispatch and control center.
